Modojo recently posted an article discussing the lack of an emergent mobile hardcore gamer. The article attempts to draw parallels between the borg-like growth of the industry and the low interest mobile gamers have in traditional hardcore outlets as an indication of their non-existence. I would contend that there is such a thing as the mobile hardcore gamer, but that few people know what they look like.
The Modojo article builds most of its argument on the assumption that the mobile gaming industry inherently functions the same way as its console and pc brethren. It states that although mobile gaming was a $600 million industry last year ($1.5 billion worldwide), little to none of that interest is translating over to mobile-centric websites or forums (with the exception being QuicklyBored, of course). Modojo seems to lament the mobile gamer’s lack of interest in the “tried and true” industry staples, stating that “the mobile gaming medium has yet to find that core group willing to devour pre-release fact sheets and trailers, or hype up upcoming mobile-exclusive IPs.”
And I hope to god they never do. This may seem like a strange position to have when working for a mobile gaming website, but it’s really not. QuicklyBored’s mindset is to provide mobile gamers with the information they need to have fun, while lambasting the truly atrocious aspects of the industry to entertain and provide gamers with a warning of what to avoid. Are in-depth previews of ‘mobile-exclusive IPs’, pre-release screenshots and ‘L337′ hyperbolic forums necessary to do this? No.
Are they even desirable? The console industry is so inundated with continuous hyping of the Next Big Thing and a focus on graphics over gameplay, that it’s killing the fun and creativity — the reasons why we play games in the first place. Do we really want these negative aspects of console gaming infecting a young industry that, at best, creates amusing distractions, and at worst, foul demonspawn from the Seventh Circle of Hell? Who in their right mind would want to spend time scouring the internet for screenshots of the next great mobile game when mobile games are something you play when there’s nothing better to do?
Ignoring the mobile hardcore
Looking for a type of gamer that neither exists or is desired within the mobile gaming arena also neglects the existence and needs of gamers that actually play mobile games. If Modojo would have spent more time listening to the person they interviewed for the article (Sprint’s Games & Entertainment Manager, Jason Ford), they’d have realized that the mobile hardcore gamer is sitting right in front of their noses. This is what Ford had to say:
“Hardcore mobile gamers do exist, and most fall into one of two categories. First there are the ‘cardcore’ mobile gamers. These are people who play casual games in a hardcore fashion. The type that might spend hours and hours trying to get a Bejeweled high score, but don’t own a gaming console. Second is the hard-offs. They’re the type more likely to check out the mobile version of a hit console title, because they know and like the brand.”
The mobile hardcore gamers, then, aren’t people who search out or are even aware of gaming websites and forums. They’re your mom, your little sister, and your boss. This doesn’t mean that they’re lightweights, however; Ford goes on to say that these gamers could potentially be console gamers, if not for the time commitment necessary. Unsurprisingly, mobile gaming’s appeal is its immediacy. The mobile hardcore gamer may spend most of their time playing on their work breaks (or when they actually should be working), but they’re still logging heavy hours with Bejeweled. Ford talks about gamers who wrap their mobile in plastic bags and take it in the shower with them — how is that not hardcore?
If you catch me after a few beers (like now, for instance) I might even be inclined to tell you that the hardcore mobile gamer is hardcore because of the way they prioritize their time commitments – their play time to fun ratio is way higher than the average console or pc gamer. Who’s smarter: someone who can get their gaming fix in 15 minutes and then continue on with a normal social life, or those lost souls would rather kill 10000 rats over five hours just to earn enough GP to buy their avatar ‘SuperDude69′ a sword of +4 charisma so their guild buddies will like them more?
So not only has the mobile hardcore gamer arrived, they’ve always been here. And the gaming media better recognize. Word.
Related posts:
0 Responses to “This is Hardcore: Debunking Mobile Myths”